American people take our cleaning very seriously. The bathroom in some ways is a special temple that should not be tampered with. There’s a toilet, a shower, a sink and a mirror. Each object has a very clearly defined use. Toothpaste goes in the sink, waste goes in the toilet, and shampoo goes in the shower. Every bathroom should have toilet paper, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste. The idea of proper hygiene is so well instilled in us that running out of toilet paper is a huge embarrassment, forgetting ones toothbrush is tragic and leaving “unpleasant” odors is horrifying. Yet, how sustainable are our practices in the bathroom? Even if we are faced with some unsustainable practice, would we be willing to let it go and change our ritualistic behavior? Well one simple change a person can make is toothpaste.
It turns out that toothpaste is great for a teeth but nothing else. That little dollop of blue goo on your toothbrush is actually host to quite an array of chemicals. While toothpaste ingredients differ from brand to brand in general there are about 4 ingredients: triclosan, potassium nitrate, methylparaben and ethylparaben. Of these chemicals it is triclosan over which a controversy is building. Triclosan is used in many hygiene products for its antibacterial effects. Soap, deodorant, toothpaste and cutting boards, you name it. However recent research has shown that triclosan is bioaccumulating in aquatic animals. Trace amount of triclosan have been found in dolphin blood. And triclosan is known to disrupt hormones and growth in other animals. Triclosan’s chemical structure is also very similar to thyroid hormone which brings up worries of triclosan having unintended effects in mammals and possibly humans. Also triclosan is known to be toxic to diatom algae at the levels found in the environment. Also reports have suggested that triclosan can combine with chlorine to form chloroform, a possible carcinogen.
Also not only do the chemicals in toothpaste contaminate our waste water, they also make it harder to clean. Very often waste water treatment plants use microbes to help clean waste water. Yet, with all the antibacterial chemicals in toothpaste, like triclosan, the effectiveness of the microbes to clean waste water is diminished.
Lastly, there’s also the packaging that toothpaste comes in. For one, the cardboard casing the toothpaste comes in can’t actually be recycled due to its composite nature. Toothpaste boxes are often shiny with reflective surfaces and raised lettering or design. Then what about the toothpaste cartridge? This predominantly ends up in a landfill. No major toothpaste company makes recyclable toothpaste tubes.
So what should be done? Finding alternative toothpastes that don’t contain harmful chemicals such as triclosan and parabens. There are a variety of toothpaste brands out there that contain more eco friendly chemicals such as peroxide, baking soda and peppermint. These alternatives are nearly just as effective as mainstream brands. However if you must keep your Colgate or Crest toothpaste, it may just be better to spit it out into the trash. This doesn’t solve the problem; it’s more the lesser of two evils. But, better all that triclosan and paraben end up in land fill to slowly leak out into the water table than to be dumped directly back into it. Also the cardboard packaging toothpaste comes in can be changed to be recyclable. Embossed lettering isn’t needed on something that is thrown out the minute after you buy it. This is a simple and easy change to make. Almost every other food in the supermarket is still able to make a profit without a shiny cardboard case.
Toothpaste Isn’t so clean
American people take our cleaning very seriously. The bathroom in some ways is a special temple that should not be tampered with. There’s a toilet, a shower, a sink and a mirror. Each object has a very clearly defined use. Toothpaste goes in the sink, waste goes in the toilet, and shampoo goes in the shower. Every bathroom should have toilet paper, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste. The idea of proper hygiene is so well instilled in us that running out of toilet paper is a huge embarrassment, forgetting ones toothbrush is tragic and leaving “unpleasant” odors is horrifying. Yet, how sustainable are our practices in the bathroom? Even if we are faced with some unsustainable practice, would we be willing to let it go and change our ritualistic behavior? Well one simple change a person can make is toothpaste.
It turns out that toothpaste is great for a teeth but nothing else. That little dollop of blue goo on your toothbrush is actually host to quite an array of chemicals. While toothpaste ingredients differ from brand to brand in general there are about 4 ingredients: triclosan, potassium nitrate, methylparaben and ethylparaben. Of these chemicals it is triclosan over which a controversy is building. Triclosan is used in many hygiene products for its antibacterial effects. Soap, deodorant, toothpaste and cutting boards, you name it. However recent research has shown that triclosan is bioaccumulating in aquatic animals. Trace amount of triclosan have been found in dolphin blood. And triclosan is known to disrupt hormones and growth in other animals. Triclosan’s chemical structure is also very similar to thyroid hormone which brings up worries of triclosan having unintended effects in mammals and possibly humans. Also triclosan is known to be toxic to diatom algae at the levels found in the environment. Also reports have suggested that triclosan can combine with chlorine to form chloroform, a possible carcinogen.
Also not only do the chemicals in toothpaste contaminate our waste water, they also make it harder to clean. Very often waste water treatment plants use microbes to help clean waste water. Yet, with all the antibacterial chemicals in toothpaste, like triclosan, the effectiveness of the microbes to clean waste water is diminished.
Lastly, there’s also the packaging that toothpaste comes in. For one, the cardboard casing the toothpaste comes in can’t actually be recycled due to its composite nature. Toothpaste boxes are often shiny with reflective surfaces and raised lettering or design. Then what about the toothpaste cartridge? This predominantly ends up in a landfill. No major toothpaste company makes recyclable toothpaste tubes.
So what should be done? Finding alternative toothpastes that don’t contain harmful chemicals such as triclosan and parabens. There are a variety of toothpaste brands out there that contain more eco friendly chemicals such as peroxide, baking soda and peppermint. These alternatives are nearly just as effective as mainstream brands. However if you must keep your Colgate or Crest toothpaste, it may just be better to spit it out into the trash. This doesn’t solve the problem; it’s more the lesser of two evils. But, better all that triclosan and paraben end up in land fill to slowly leak out into the water table than to be dumped directly back into it. Also the cardboard packaging toothpaste comes in can be changed to be recyclable. Embossed lettering isn’t needed on something that is thrown out the minute after you buy it. This is a simple and easy change to make. Almost every other food in the supermarket is still able to make a profit without a shiny cardboard case.
Work Cited